A new victory for campaign finance reform in Montana! Posted on May 11, 2018 Free Speech For People has worked since 2014 to defend the state of Montana from wealthy and corporate interests challenging the historically low campaign contribution limits in the state. In October 2017, the low campaign contribution limits in Montana were upheld by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, reversing a previous lower court ruling onRead More
Victory for Women Candidates Running for Office! Posted on May 10, 2018 In a 4-0 decision today, the Federal Election Commission determined that candidates may use campaign funds to cover childcare expenses incurred while running for political office. The matter was brought before the FEC by Liuba Grechen Shirley, a congressional candidate requiring childcare in order to campaign for office. The FEC ruled childcare was a legitimateRead More
New Report on Impact of Seattle’s Democracy Voucher Program on Candidates’ Ability to Rely on Constituents for Fundraising Posted on May 1, 2018 (May 1, 2018) Today, Free Speech For People released a new issue report on The Impact of Seattle’s Democracy Voucher Program on Candidates’ Ability to Rely on Constituents for Fundraising. In 2015, Seattle voters enacted a novel democracy voucher program for public campaign financing. The objective of this analysis was to examine whether the democracy voucher program, first used in theRead More
FSFP Files Amended FEC Complaint in McDougal Case Posted on April 26, 2018 (October 3, 2018) Former Playboy model Karen McDougal may have settled her case with National Enquirer owner American Media, Inc., but the evidence that the initial payment to her from the publisher violated campaign finance laws get stronger almost daily. Today, Free Speech For People filed an amended complaint at the Federal Election Commission to reflect the stunningRead More
Bellotti at 40: Corporations, Political Spending, and the First Amendment Posted on April 26, 2018 (April 26, 2018) Democracy Amendments Today is the 40th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in First National Bank of Boston v. Bellotti, a landmark case that paved the way for Citizens United. It’s not an anniversary to celebrate. In Bellotti, the Supreme Court (by a 5-4 margin) struck down a Massachusetts law that prohibited corporations from spending money on ballotRead More
New Video: Corporate Political Spending and Foreign Influence Posted on April 20, 2018 (April 20, 2018) As part of Free Speech For People’s campaign to challenge foreign corporate money in our elections, we co-organized the event, Corporate Political Spending and Foreign Influence, at Harvard Law School on April 3, 2018, with Harvard Law Professor John Coates. The event featured Professor Coates, Harvard Law Professor Charles Fried, and Free Speech For PeopleRead More
Contaminating the Courts: Fighting Back Against a Corporate Campaign to Attack the Environment Posted on April 19, 2018 As Earth Day approaches, it’s time to take a look at an insidious attack on the environment that’s been spreading in recent years: a coordinated corporate campaign to undo protections for consumers and the environment by contaminating the courts with fabricated constitutional rights claims. Today, Free Speech For People and Greenpeace are releasing a jointRead More
Not So Fast Sheriff Joe Posted on April 17, 2018 (October 3, 2018) Ninth Circuit appoints special prosecutor in Arpaio Appeal of Criminal Contempt Conviction Today, the Ninth Circuit issued an order appointing a special prosecutor to defend the district court’s decision denying former sheriff Joe Arpaio’s attempt to vacate his conviction for criminal contempt. This marks a critical victory in the fight to secure an independent judiciaryRead More
Childcare, Women Candidates, and Political Equality Posted on April 13, 2018 (April 13, 2018) Today we filed a comment to the Federal Election Commission in support of a request for an advisory opinion by Liuba Grechen Shirley, a congressional candidate who needs childcare in order to be able to campaign for office. Our comment, which we submitted together with Demos and Professor Zephyr Teachout, supports Ms. Shirley’s request toRead More
New Resource Page: The Case That Could End Super PACs Posted on April 12, 2018 (October 3, 2018) Free Speech For People is excited to announce the launch of our new resource page dedicated to the landmark case that could end Super PACs, Lieu v. FEC. Super PACs have become one of the primary vehicles for wealthy donors to evade campaign contribution limits designed to prevent corruption and the appearance of corruption. LieuRead More